Third runway announcement faces further delays

The government's long-awaited decision on whether or not a third runway is to be built at Heathrow is subject to further delays, the Guardian has claimed.

The paper said that a group of cabinet ministers wanted greater environmental guarantees from Gordon Brown, including greater assurances on air quality and noise pollution.

The cabinet is set to discuss the runway further at a cabinet meeting this morning, prompting speculation that an announcement will be made on Thursday.

But the paper claimed that this could now be put off until the end of the month, although the prime minister may push for the announcement to be made sooner.